Are fight fans the next jackpot market for online casinos?

Ask anyone about the biggest sports audiences in the world and you will not fail to hear the mentions of football, basketball or cricket. But there’s another fanbase that’s been steadily growing in numbers: fight fans. Can you believe that, according to ZipDo, MMA alone pulls the support of more than 600 million fans worldwide?

It’s partly why PTF Lab values the global MMA market at $1.5 billion and expects it to expand at a 12% CAGR, reaching $3.5 billion within the next few years. For businesses seeking global dominance, such statistics mean the world. And in the casino sector, where things have become super competitive, it shouldn’t be surprising that companies are turning to such high-potential markets to extend their reach.

Brands like Kokobet are always on the hunt for new and loyal audiences. However, focusing on the online casino industry alone might not help. According to Grand View Research, this sector has already hit $19.11 billion and is on its way to reach $38 billion by 2030, showing how increasingly competitive it’s becoming. This is why trying new markets like combat sports could actually be handy.

Fans don’t just watch

As you may know, combat sports supporters are quite engaged in the games. Besides just watching the matches, they often place wagers, analyze training footage and tune into press conferences just to see two fighters trade verbal jabs. This kind of loyalty is what many online casinos are seeking.

And the more loyal a fan becomes, the more likely they will spend more money. Business.com has published an article along these lines claiming that returning customers spend up to 67% more than new ones. Another study by SAP Emarsys shows that such customers are 64% more likely to transact with brands more frequently. Therefore, to take advantage of these statistics, online casinos are integrating betting options to their product portfolios to connect with more fight fans.

Think of it this way: A fan has been spending the past few weeks hyping themselves up for a Conor McGregor comeback. Their emotional connection skyrockets when they put $50 down on him winning by knockout. Mark you: the betting industry, of which combat sports supporters constitute a significant part, is rapidly growing. Recent Statista approximations value it at $77.18 billion and expect it to hit $94.89 billion by 2029 – a clear indication that it could be worth joining the sports betting industry.

So, what can casinos do?

Take advantage of sponsorship

While combat fans can be a gold mine, you must be strategic if you are to reach most of them. Being average may never help, which is why sponsorships are handy. Partnering with reputable promotions like MMA gives an impression of trust, which can be a great differentiating factor.

Surprisingly, Zendesk cites lack of trust as the reason over 80% of shoppers never do business with brands. At a time when scammers are becoming the norm, buyers want to be sure they are interacting with genuine dealers. And that’s precisely what partnering with a reputable promotion does. It gives an impression of reliability, encouraging fans to explore the casino in question.

It also allows casinos to reach more people. The combat sports industry is already extending its roots into many cultures. It’s no longer just limited to the American borders; other regions are increasingly opening to it. Abu Dhabi is a prime example. The city branded itself as the ‘Fight Island’ of the UFC, building entire tourism campaigns around combat sports. Now imagine the people you can now reach by your logo appearing on athletes’ jerseys and UFC rings. It’s definitely a large population, given that fighting sports now enjoys multicultural influence.

Cater to the growing need for mobile-friendly access

Like many other people, fight fans want to do almost everything using their mobile phones. This could be anything from streaming favorite matches to placing wagers on different outcomes. The experience shouldn’t be frustrating just because they switched to mobile phones, which have smaller screens. Frustrating web experiences can negatively affect the entertainment and increase churn rates. According to JDM Digital, more than six in ten users will turn away and possibly never return to such websites.

Conversely, providing mobile-friendly websites can increase retention rates by encouraging up to 74% of users to become loyal. To stay relevant amid the growing popularity of mobile phones, operators are turning to the responsive design approach. In this approach, a single website automatically adjusts its layout, content and appearance to provide an optimal viewing experience across various devices and screen sizes. It achieves this using techniques like fluid grids and flexible images to ensure content is readable and navigable.

The idea that the combat sports industry could be the next jackpot market for online casinos is very sensible. After all, it has moved from a niche to a global phenomenon, drawing the attention of millions of supporters from different communities. But like any other market, standing out here will require a lot of skill and strategy. Casinos may need to consider strategic partnerships with reputable promotions to appeal to customers who must trust brands before transacting.

This is without mentioning the importance of aligning with contemporary trends like the increasing popularity of mobile phones. Today, everyone, including fighting sports fans, is increasingly turning to mobile devices for entertainment. Failure to cater to such a shift may give competitors an edge, explaining why responsive designs have become so common.